Pakistan and Afghanistan to Cooperate on Border Patrolling

Afgha.com is reporting on the new cooperative agreement to partner in patrolling the Pakistani/Afghani border areas, which will apply even more pressure to the Taliban, and Al Qaeda forces there. This along with the earlier summer move of opening the war chest and bringing many of the tribal warlords back aboard presages good to come. I like simultaneous patrols.

PRAGUE, August 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) — U.S. military officials in Kabul say a breakthrough agreement has been reached with Afghan and Pakistani military leaders that will improve security along the volatile Afghan-Pakistan border. Some experts are skeptical, however, saying deep problems remain in relations between Kabul and Islamabad despite any tactical agreements on counterterrorism operations.

Under their new accord, the military forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan will conduct coordinated and simultaneous patrols along their respective sides of the border to prevent Islamic militants from moving between the two countries.

U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan also will participate in patrols aimed at improving security along the nearly 2,500-kilometer border.

Three-Way Deal

The agreement was reached at talks in Kabul on August 23 by members of the so-called Tripartite Commission. That’s a grouping that includes senior military officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and NATO.

U.S. Army Colonel Tom Collins, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan tells RFE/RL the agreement is a breakthrough.

My prediction is that this will go largely unreported in the media, but it’s really a significant move. It’s incremental small steps like this that corner the enemies of freedom, and eventually breaks their backs.